Heros

They say statistically that only five percent of the patients who come to a pediatric emergency room have true life threatening events. Which means for the most part that my job is taking care of non-critical patients, blowing bubbles and giving out slushies. But don't get me wrong that doesn't mean we don't see very sick kids. In fact in the course of my day I see kids fighting illness and circumstance that no child should every have to. And every time that I meet one of these patients they amaze me.

The other night I had the pleasure of taking care of a patient who despite feeling miserable made me laugh all night... As they were leaving the ER, after finishing a blue slushy, we had what might be one of my favorite exchanges with a patient ever.

Krista: Hey, you need to stop in the bathroom and look in the mirror, you have blue teeth.
Abigail (our child life specialist): Its a new style.
Patient (laughing as she yelled down the hallway): Hey, every thing's in style when you have cancer!

On the off chance that she'll ever read this let me just say one simple thing... You are my hero.

On a completely unrelated topic, the job change and the big move seem to be rushing at me like a freight train. Charlotte and I leave Wichita on the 3rd to head for a three month assignment in Louisville, Kentucky. I'll be working at Kosair Children's hospital in their ER and can't wait!  I got my housing information today and it makes it all seem so much more real. Check out our new (temporary) home.... Visitors Welcome!

A little background...

    They tell you that as a nurse you will eventually find your "niche." Its that place where you really connect with your patients, love the type of nursing that you do and want to do it for the rest of your life. I always knew that I wanted to either work with kids or in the emergency department. I just didn't know how God saw that working out eventually. 

     When I first graduated from nursing school I took a job on an adult oncology (cancer) unit with the idea of getting my feet with in Oncology and eventually transfering to pediatrics (kids). It was NOT what I expected at all and a year later I was moving back to Kansas looking again.  This time I got a little luckier and took a job on a pediatric unit at a hospital close to where I grew up. I quickly found that Pediatric was my thing but it wasn't until I started floating to the pediatric ER at our hospital that I realized exactly what finding your niche feels like. 

    Pretty soon I was going to work with the hope of being floated to the ER and that's when I realized it was time to make the switch. Best career decision EVER.  Apparently three year olds love me and I'm pretty good at thinking on my feet

    Well its time for a new adventure and after years of working up the courage I am finally taking the leap and trying traveling nursing. In three weeks I will be in a new city, living in a new apartment, sitting in a new hospital wanting to poke my eyes out in hospital orientation.